Simon Rodger will dip a toe into the relegation waters again with Albion on Saturday by playing with a fracture.

A broken big toe will not stop Rodger from lining up for the Seagulls in Saturday's relegation showdown against Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough.

A precautionary X-ray revealed the surprise damage suffered by the Shoreham-born midfielder.

Boss Steve Coppell said: "He has been playing the last two games with a broken big toe and will continue to do so.

"I would have thought you would be in agony, but apparently once it jams into the boot it is okay. It's not as if you can put it in a splint or anything, so he will just carry on."

Rodger has played a leading role in Albion's run of eight points from six games since Coppell included him in the starting line-up.

The former Crystal Palace stalwart, on target against Bradford and Preston, recently agreed a contract for the remainder of the season after initially signing monthly terms.

Meanwhile, goalkeeper Andy Petterson remains on stand-by for Albion after The Argus revealed yesterday his monthly contract and that of Cameroon-born teenager Roger Pandong have not been renewed.

Coppell explained: "We have really got to watch our pennies. With Will Packham now being fit we really can't afford to carry three goalkeepers. Andy trains with us on a regular basis to keep his fitness up, so I am sure if we ever need him again he would be available.

"Pandong's contract is up this week and he has gone. He is a player of potential, but he certainly wouldn't be in the first team in the next month or so.

"I think he will be destined for other things. He's only just 19. If he had really set the world on fire then we might have pushed the boat out and tried to sign him, but it's hard for a kid from France to come over here.

"In different circumstances we might have taken him on board, but I think we all have to accept this season is a crossroads in many ways for what is going to happen at Albion, not just the ground situation, but the division we're playing in.

"If we could guarantee we were going to be playing in the First Division then you would make some more long-term decisions, but we can't guarantee that at the moment, so we have got to err on the side of prudence."

Adam Hinshelwood, who dislocated a shoulder in the home win against Derby last month, returns to action in the reserves at Cheltenham today (2.0).

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